India conducts 3rd missile test in 4 days – this time it’s a Dhanush missile

In its third missile trial in four days, India conducted a successful test flight of its nuclear-capable Dhanush short-range missile, a naval variant of the Prithvi missile, media reported.

The surface-to-surface missile – the naval variant of India’s indigenously-developed Prithvi missile – was test-fired from a ship near Paradip in the Bay of Bengal at around 10:52 a.m., PTI reported defense officials as saying.

”The missile launch was part of training exercise by the [Strategic Force Command] of Indian Navy,” one official said. Officials told PTI that all mission objectives were met.

Dhanush was last tested on April 9, 2015, PTI’s sources said.

The Dhanush missile can carry payloads of up to 1,000kg (2,200 lb), and is capable of hitting targets on land and at sea. It has been tested to the 350km (215 mile) range, but can reportedly fly further with smaller payloads –  600km with a 500kg payload, and 750km with a 250kg warhead.

Earlier this week, a India’s Agni-II medium range ballistic missile was tested on February 20, followed by a test of the Prithvi-II short-range missile on Wednesday, February 21.

This weeks trials mark an increasing frequency to a number of missile tests India has conducted in recent months.

The medium-range Agni-I was tested on February 6 followed the following day by a test of the Prithvi-II.

India’s nuclear-capable Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully tested for the fifth time on January 18, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Advanced Air Defence missile system intercepted a target ballistic missile in a test on December 28. Earlier in December, DRDO declared as successful a launch of its Akash surface-to-air missile fitted with an indigenous seeker.

In November, DRDO said it conducted a successful test flight of the indigenously developed Nirbhay long-range sub-sonic cruise missile.